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Thames

The River Thames runs for 215 miles from its source in the Cotswolds to its estuary at Southend-on-Sea. At Teddington, west London, it becomes a tidal river. The Thames widens considerably at Deptford.

At the start of the 20th century, the Port of London remained the central trading post for the British Empire. The Port of London Authority was created in 1909. The last dock to be opened in London was the King George V Dock in 1921. At this time, river and canal trade remained buoyant.

However, by the mid-20th century, a huge decline in the use of the river for trade meant the docks also suffered a downturn, which quickly led to their closure. The last inner-London docks closed in 1981.The Tilbury Docks, 26 miles downstream from Tower Bridge, now became the only operational docks in the Port of London. Along with the decline of the docks, other related industrial activities deteriorated, such as shipbuilding and repair, power stations and breweries.

As the docks closed, building programmes developed that changed the riverside areas from industrial to residential use. Converting empty warehouses and industrial buildings became popular. Many luxury riverside flats were constructed in the Isle of Dogs alongside office skyscrapers such as the Canary Wharf Tower.

In the second half of the 20th century, the Thames riverbanks became the home to a number of arts events and buildings. The Festival of Britain in 1951 saw the development of a huge site on the South Bank that included the Royal Festival Hall. Later developments included the South Bank Arts Complex, the Globe Theatre and the conversion of the Bankside Power Station into the Tate Modern.

Leisure activities associated with the Thames have also developed throughout the 20th century. Two of the old docks have been changed into marinas: St Katherine's Dock and the Regent's Canal Dock, now the Limehouse Marina. A commuter boat service has been introduced between the centre of London and the Isle of Dogs. Alongside the river, the Thames Path runs for 180 miles from the source to the Thames Barrier in Woolwich.

The 'Doggett's Coat and Badge' boat race, which began in 1715, is still held. Actor Thomas Doggett was so grateful to a local waterman for his efforts to ferry him home one night that he set up a rowing race for professional watermen. The winner receives the coveted scarlet coat and silver badge - hence the name of the race. The annual race takes place on 1 August when professional watermen row from London Bridge to Chelsea.

In 1829, Cambridge University challenged Oxford University to a rowing race. Since 1845 the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race has taken place on the Thames between Putney and Mortlake.

During the early 20th century, the quality of water in the River Thames declined. A report in the 1950s stated that there was no fish life between Kew and Gravesend. A determined effort was made to clean up the Thames in London, with the result that it is now one of the world's cleanest rivers.

The river supplies two-thirds of London's drinking water. By the end of the 20th century, the river was being increasingly used to transport bulky goods such as household waste, in an environmentally friendly way.

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